I'm not sure the folks at the Milwaukee Shops had this in mind when they were building passenger cars.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33672589@N ... 379382848/

Regards, Justin Nelson

I'd call it a beautiful example of "adaptive reuse."

Better than being scrapped.

"Most... Preposterous... Covered... Bridge... EVER!!!!"

I like it very creative thinking!

Along those lines, the boys at the South Milwaukee Shops sure did build em good:

http://michaelwlind.com/wordpress/wp-co ... img061.jpg

I think that this car is on a golf course, but I have seen a photo somewhere on the internet of an old boxcar used thusly, except on a secondary (gravel) public road.

Les

There are in SWPA several examples of private bridges on driveways, etc. that are made of flatcars, less trucks. I recall one example that still had P&LE jade green paint and full lettering and logo for several years after its installation. One thing for sure, the owner should not have concern about driving his 6000 lb SUV or pickup over such a bridge.

David -

Flat cars are fairly common as a bridge source. Boxcars are much rarer as you have to cut off the ends to gain access.

Les

Just last week, while en route to Tunkhannock, Pa., the center of the Marcellus shale activity in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier, on business, I saw two large crawler trackhoes hauling a 50-foot flatcar body up a steep gravel road off the highway, apparently to be installed as a bridge leading to a drill site.

As others have mentioned, flatcar bridges are common. I've dealt with, and recommend, Skipp Gibbs. http://www.skipgibbs.com/

An example some of you may be familiar with is the Poway-Midland Railroad in Poway, CA. The "through truss" bridges on that line are actually flatcars. The trusswork is purely decorative except for serving as a safety railing.

One of the two bridges is a bit unusual, as it's made of two flatcars placed side by side. They were placed in position and then connected together to form a ballasted deck bridge. The reason for that was the sharp curve that bridge is located on.

I was the project engineer for the railroad construction on that job, but it's been many years ago. I think I purchased the bridges from Skipp Gibbs, but I'm not 100% certain of that. I'm pretty sure it was him though.

I seem to recall photos of another installation like this at a golf course, but I think it was modified to allow carts to drive through. I don't think it was the boxcar one though, I'm thinking it was an old coach or baggage car? They'd gutted the interior, and made it into a sort of covered bridge.

As for this one, having the engineering background that I do, I have to wonder about not supporting this at the truck bolster. Granted, that's common on flatcar bridges as well, but given the installation, I've had been tempted to put some kind of support right at the point where the trucks connected, to help prevent sagging or bending.

Other examples, from a covered bridge directory:

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/oklah ... 36055b.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/oklah ... 36055a.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/ohio/htm/35025c.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/calif ... 05036a.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/illin ... 13049e.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/illin ... 13049f.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/illin ... 13049g.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/india ... 14029b.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/india ... 14069d.htm

http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/oklah ... 36014a.htm

Glad to see that they kept the the lettering on these cars. Look forward to seeing any additional examples.

Les

West of Mitchell Oregon, there's a private and very nice looking "covered bridge". It is built on a long flatcar! This is quite near the Painted Hills and John Day fossil beds.

Steve

Hmmm. Is that the Lincoln Funeral Car?